Cutthroat trout.

[hrbr57]

I was up on the North Fork of the Trask River today and saw someone catch a cutthroat trout. I went to go look at it and it was about 16" long and it had a bright yellow dot on it's belly about the size of a quarter. I had never seen anything like that and was wondering if anyone else had and what does it mean?

 

[eugene1]

I think that yellow spot is a natural birthmark.

Any photos of it?

Welcome to the forum as well!

 

[hrbr57]

Really! No I didn't get any photos wish I had. Thanks for the info.

 

[eugene1]

Similar yellow spots have been found on a variety of Pacific salmonids.

 

[Stonefish]

I've caught a number of searuns fly fishing in the salt that have yellow hues or marks on them.
Any of these have marking like the fish you saw caught?
SF

 

[GaryP1958]

Thats a beauty! If the wind dies down I know where a few of those are!

 

[jimdbrow01]

Beautiful fish.